Topic: BatzG - Anzac
The Battle of Anzac Cove
Gallipoli, 25 April 1915
1st Australian Division War Diary
War Diary account of the 1st Australian Division, AIF.
The following is a transcription of the War Diary of the 1st Australian Division, AIF, of their role in the landings at Anzac on 25 April 1915.
25 April 1915
Anzac Bay, Gallipoli
1 am - The Prince of Wales anchored about 5 miles from shore owing to the clear moonlight the shore outline was visible. With glasses the ships all around could be clearly seen.
The men were got into the boats very silently. There were 4 tows. The tows fell in in rear of the battleship. At 3.57 am the ship got into position and advanced towards the shore. At a distance of about a mile the ship halted and the steam boats took the tows in.
Rifle fire was heard from the shore at 4.32.
A gun was fired at 4.57 am from one of the supporting ships.
GSO II and Major Villiers Stuart landed and reported landing between 237 W and 224 B.
General Officer Commanding visited Army Corps Headquarters Queen and came ashore. Informed position of warships. Attending ships Queen, Prince of Wales, London - covering ships Triumph and Bacchante on south Majestic on north.
9 am - 2nd Infantry Brigade report on line 224 Q to right of 3rd Infantry Brigade advancing to ridge 212 G-B. Constant firing 224 M no sign of enemy on ridges 224 W or 212 G-B. Headquarters 224 R.
3 Krupp guns captured by 10th Infantry Battalion 224 I.
Third Infantry Brigade called constantly for more ammunition.
9.45 am - 2nd and 3rd Infantry Brigades in touch. 2nd Infantry Battalion of 1st Infantry Brigade sent to help 2nd Infantry Brigade.
9.54 am - A Company 7th Infantry Battalion in touch with 3rd Infantry Brigade's right.
10.25 am - 2nd Infantry Brigade informed us that 6th Infantry Battalion wanted reinforcements and he sent in his only available troops in 2 platoons of 5th Infantry Battalion.
10.35 am - 3rd Infantry Brigade reports Hill 224 C6 seriously threatened and asks support on left. General Officer Commanding ordered 1st Infantry Brigade to sent two companies to the hill.
10.50 am - 6th Infantry Battalion advanced under shrapnel fire.
General Officer Commanding went to see Colonel M'Cay at 2nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters.
11.30 am - General Officer Commanding informed that New Zealand Infantry Brigade on way to shore to come under his command on arrival.
11.30 am - 2nd Infantry Brigade reports position 7th Infantry Battalion 224 N and half 6th Infantry Battalion and half 5th Infantry Battalion 224 S, half 5th Infantry Battalion in support. Half 6th Infantry Battalion, half 8th Infantry Battalion moving to support to his right - no reserve.
11.8 am - 2nd Infantry Brigade reported that a party of 3rd Infantry Brigade being driven south.
General Walker to take command of New Zealand force on shore vice Colonel Johnstone.
12.15 pm - GSOIII (General Service Officer III) sent to Officer Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade to take up ammunition and water.
12.25 pm - Auckland Infantry Battalion joined on left of 2nd Infantry Battalion. 4th Infantry Battalion complete and in hand.
1.0 pm - 8th Infantry Battalion saw troops on left retiring and began to fear being cut off.
1.15 pm - 2nd Infantry Brigade reported that 6th Infantry Battalion must be reinforced at once. "C" Company 1st Infantry Battalion which had been about left in the main valley to wait for orders was sent in and two platoons of 5th Infantry Battalion under Captain Walstan reported themselves and were sent in.
1.7 pm 6th Infantry Battalion reported that their right was taken. (Message delayed till 1.50 pm.)
Indian Mountain Guns came into action Square 224 H5.
1.45 pm - Owing to pressure on 6th Infantry Battalion, the 8th Infantry Battalion was drawn into the left to support 6th Infantry Battalion except one company left out on a knoll. This left a gap of 600 yards.
1.40 pm - Situation much easier but pressure not ceased.
2.48 pm - Officer Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade reported that his left could not stand unless supported.
2.55 pm - Divisional Headquarters directed 2nd Infantry Brigade to entrench line 224 RUI.
3.10 pm - 6th and 8th Infantry Battalion have built up defensive firing line but shrapnel shell active.
3.20 pm - 3rd Infantry Brigade report issuing orders to entrench but will not have sufficient strength.
5 pm (approximate) - General Officer Commanding discussed situation with Officer Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade and General Service Officer III by telephone and determined to send up 4th Infantry Battalion. General Service Officer III to guide it up. About this time many stragglers came out of firing line and lay about under the crest.
5.37 pm - Attack on left of 2nd Infantry Brigade developed. Headquarters asked to expedite landing of 4th Infantry Brigade.
The beach on which the landing took place was not the beach originally arranged but about one mile further north. The landing place was banked by hills running 400 feet with 300 yards of water's edge. It was up these steep slopes that the 3rd Infantry Brigade charged with the bayonet. No firing was permitted and no halting.
6.0 pm - 4th Infantry Battalion began to move up, crossed the valley under hostile shrapnel fire and went in by companies from left taking up a line of about 600 yards along left of 8th Infantry Battalion and right of 6th Infantry Battalion. The pressure relaxed very soon after.
6.15 pm - 1st Infantry Brigade reported firing line on left being driven back.
6.23 pm - Queen asked to shell 238 M
6.38 pm - 2nd Infantry Brigade proposed to show right flank at night by a seaward light.
10.20 pm - Enemy attacked 8th Infantry Battalion with bayonet but were driven off.
26 April 1915
Anzac Bay, Gallipoli
3.13 am - 1st Infantry Brigade reports in touch 1st, 2nd and 3rd Infantry Battalions, 1st intact and can hold on, 2nd and 3rd greatly split up.
5.50 am - 3rd Infantry Brigade reports holding line and will be all right if there is no serious attack.
5.41 am - 5th Infantry Battalion in touch with 15th Infantry Battalion on its left.
5.42 am - 2nd Infantry Brigade reports could not reorganise during night. Only enemy are snipers. Plenty ammunition.
6.25 am - 8th Infantry Battalion reports line will entrenched and support trenches nearly ready.
7.30 am - General Officer Commanding Army Corps directs all to be warned against desultory firing, especially at night, and only against definite targets. Digging best protection against snipers.
7.8 am - Officer Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade in telephone communication with 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Infantry Battalions.
8.17 am - Queen asked to search northern slope of ridge 224 P and T.
9 am - Infantry Battalion Sergeant Major 3rd Infantry Battalion reports firing line hard pressed, Captain King sent up a party.
10.5 am - Many reports as fire from Kaba Tepe.
10.18 am - 2nd Infantry Battalion says Navy shelling our trenches and asks him to increase elevation. Two shells from ships directed at "Green Patch" fell short. Fire wanted at maximum 224 J 3-6, 224 O2.
10.30 am - Gun near Kaba Tepe forward knoll 224 Q3.
10.38 am - 2nd Infantry Battalion report snipers at Fisherman's Hut.
Colonel Pope, 16th Infantry Battalion reports heavy fire on left.
11.42 am - 4th Infantry Battalion reports battery 224 D vide Intel Reports.
10.43 am - 2nd Infantry Battalion reports portion is 237 V6 to 224 C2.
11.35 - Queen fired 12 inch guns on 225 T asked for observation.
11.56 am - 5th Infantry Battalion under shrapnel fire.
Noon - 2nd Infantry Brigade situation unchanged.
2.13 pm - 3rd Infantry Brigade asks for the 450 men on the beach to reinforce his left centre. All available were collected.
During the afternoon, Colonel MacLaurin and staff went up to relieve Colonel MacLagan and staff but Headquarters continued to be known as 3rd Infantry Brigade.
Commanding Officer Divisional Artillery asked to search 224 J. Colonel Rosenthal says impossible with 1 gun he has no more in yet.
2.22 pm - 2nd Infantry Brigade reports shell falling apparently from 706.
2.37 pm - 3rd Infantry Brigade asks for all possible support of naval guns.
2.45 pm - Battery gun opened fire on part of 6th Infantry Battalion lines across 224 M5, 30 degrees east of S.
4.6 pm - 8th Infantry Battalion reports naval guns doing great execution among the Turks.
4.20 - 2nd Infantry Battalion sent party forward and reoccupied 100 yards in front of top of ridge.
4.30 pm - 2nd Infantry Battalion reports successful bayonet charge. His position 237 W5 to 224 C5. 3 snipers found in rear of 6th Infantry Battalion line during night.
Ships again played searchlights on valleys north and south of our positions throughout the night. Enemy ruses
(i) A party in Australian uniform;
(ii) An order purporting to be from General Headquarters to cease firing;
(iii) Turks reported to have come towards our lines dancing and having seen what they wanted to, cleared out dancing. (This seems a very improbable story.)
5.15 - Troops warned against enemy ruses. These consist in passing orders and reports. Eg "The troops at so and so are Indians. Don't fire" etc.
6 pm - 3rd Infantry Brigade reports observing station on point opposite Mountain Battery Square 224 C2.
6.15 pm - 8th Infantry Battalion demanded immediate reinforcements.
6.30 pm 8th Infantry Battalion asking for immediate reinforcements on right.
Queen reports message from Colonel commanding on right flank. We have brought guns to 224 M and driven from this ridge and forced to bring down guns to the beach. Can you arrange to keep the enemy from ridge vacated by us.
9.5 - Lieutenant Lloyd, 1st Infantry Battalion reported himself and party on right flank with 4th Infantry Brigade. He proposed to remain there until 4th Infantry Brigade units relieved.
11.45 pm - Officer Commanding 4th Infantry Battalion reported killed. Second in Command wounded, Major Hearne seriously wounded, Adjutant missing, Major Storey carrying on.
War Diaries
All War Diaries cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915
The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, 1st Infantry Brigade, Roll of Honour
The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, AIF, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, 1st Australian Division War Diary
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Thursday, 15 April 2010 6:07 PM EADT
